Home Podcasts This Week in Space (Video)

This Week in Space (Video)

TWiT 10 Episodes Aug 21, 2026

This Week in Space covers the latest developments in space exploration, astronomy, and the commercial space industry. Hosted by Rod Pyle, editor-in-chief of Ad Astra magazine, and Tariq Malik, managing editor of Space.com, the show discusses everything from rocket launches to cosmic discoveries. New episodes are released every Friday.

Episodes

TWiS 224: The Science of Artemis - What We'll Do on the Moon Aug 21, 2026 59:47 It has been said that the Moon is a harsh mistress, and nowhere is this more apparent than at the lunar south pole. That is, however, where the Artemis program is headed, and we need to figure out how to best explore the region. Dr. David Kring of the Universities Space Research Association's Lunar and Planetary Institute joins us to explore the where, whys, and hows of the Artemis Program's luna

TWiS 223: The Lunar Domain - Our Future on the Moon with Dr. Scott Pace Aug 14, 2026 1:05:04 We're headed for a space renaissance, and it will be focused on the Moon. The US, China, and international partners of both are vying to land people there and construct a permanent lunar base. Meanwhile, NASA is evolving to embrace commercial enterprise unlike any time in its past, and American lunar efforts are lagging. What are the stakes? Does it matter who returns humans there first? What doe

TWiS 222: How to Invade Earth in 22 Easy Steps - With Rich Edwards Aug 7, 2026 1:08:07 We've all seen the movies... the aliens come to Earth, the aliens overcome the inferior humans, and the aliens fall prey to something dumb they overlooked, like microbes, Windows 95, or most absurdly, water. From the 1950s through yesterday, some of the best movies we've seen were about the invasion of our planet. They can be clever, scary, or even downright dumb, but they are all fun. Veteran sp

TWiS 221: Starship Can Float? - Roman Space Telescope Ready to Launch! Jul 31, 2026 57:01 Rod Pyle is out this week, so Rick Jenet of the National Space Society joins Tariq Malik this week to talk about SpaceX's Starship Flight 13, which deployed new Starlink V3 satellites and stunned viewers when the ship survived reentry intact enough to float in the ocean for days afterward. They also discuss NASA's Roman Space Telescope, now just a month from launch, and an in-progress emergency e

TWiS 220: First on Mars - The 50th Anniversary of Viking 1 Jul 24, 2026 1:16:43 This week, we cover how Starship Flight 13 finally prepares to launch amid a legal battle over SpaceX's proposed land swap at Starbase, plus a Chinese Long March 3B rocket gets struck by lightning during liftoff, yet still delivers its satellite safely. Then, guests Dr. Pascal Lee and astrobiologist Dr. Penny Boston join the show to mark the 50th anniversary of Viking 1's landing on Mars and revi

TWiS 219: SpaceX Goes to War! - And Other Space Headlines Jul 17, 2026 1:13:22 This week we're jumping into the space headlines for the past few weeks. It's been busy, and some exciting things are happening! A couple of companies are moving into the space solar power arena--something we've long advocated--and that's welcome progress. Starship is set to fly Starship test number 13, and a lot is riding on this--the system is overdue for some proof of concept to keep up with N

TWiS 218: Which Way to the Moonbase? - With Dr. Pascal Lee Jul 10, 2026 1:10:52 We've been hearing a lot about NASA's new moonbase plans, and they are ambitious. Starting with Artemis V (so far), the US plans to begin preparations for a permanent base situated in the south polar regions of the moon. Details are somewhat fluid, but one thing stands out: the poles are likely to be the most challenging places to set up shop in an already hostile environment. Planetary scientist

TWiS 217: America in Space - 250 Years of Bold Firsts & Our Favorite Missions! Jul 3, 2026 1:18:05 Since 1958, the United States has been part of the spaceflight adventure, and since the mid-1960s has led in just about any category that counts. In this episode, we discuss the progression of American space efforts, review which flights launched or landed on July 4, and relive some of our very favorite US space missions of all time! "Headlines: • NASA's Swift Boost Mission Aims to Rescue Swift

TWiS 216: Dark Matter Intelligence - With Physicist Dr. Daniel Whiteson Jun 26, 2026 1:10:55 We've had endless conversations about aliens and first contact--but what if a conversation with other intelligences is beyond our scope? Dr. Daniel Whiteson, particle physicist at CERN's Large Hadron Collider and professor at UC Irvine, joins us to explore less conventional thoughts on first contact. We look at the challenges of communicating with extraterrestrial intelligences, potential difficu

TWiS 215: Disclosure Day - With Dr. David Brin Jun 19, 2026 1:06:22 If you've seen "Disclosure Day" or "Age of Disclosure," you're going to want to join us for this fascinating discussion with famed bestselling sci-fi/sci-fact author Dr. David Brin. Long known for his universe-spanning visions, storytelling skills, and occasionally contrarian viewpoints, this episode will not disappoint! Our discussion ranged from reactions to Spielberg's "Disclosure Day" to why

This Week in Space (Video)

Episodes

Recommended